Sinulog Foundation refunds stolen money

THE Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) spent its own money to refund the P1.68 million that was taken from its office last Jan. 17.

These included the financial assistance worth P880,000 to out-of-town contingents who participated in this year’s Sinulog grand parade; the P757,000 talent fee of the choreographer and dancers who performed in the Sinulog grand finale; the administrative bonus of the Cebu City Sports Complex’s (CCSC) administrative clerk worth P7,000; the SFI’s petty cash amounting to P10,000; P8,000 in ticket sales of the CCSC; and P9,000 for a digital camera.

Ongoing probe

SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros believes chances of recovering the money are slim as the case goes on.

He also said he has not received any updates.

Cebu City Police Office’s (CCPO) Theft and Robbery Section Chief Rolando Pinili told Sun.Star Cebu they are still gathering evidence and backtracking to look for leads.

A qualified theft complaint against security guard Joselyndon Jabagat, who was initially implicated as the suspect, was dropped by the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.

Assistant City Prosecutor Gandhi Truya said the allegations against Jabagat were based on “suspicions and insinuations.”

Nothing personal

CCPO Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe had said they would gather more evidence to make a stronger case once they refile the complaint.

He said they have evidence a crowbar was used in the burglary, but they weren’t able to present this to the fiscal because it was being examined at the crime laboratory.

On alleged police lapses that led to the dismissal of the complaint against Jabagat, Buenafe said they only investigated, took testimonies of witnesses, and filed a case before the court. (PDF/DSM)